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- Son of Henry Smull and his first wife, Elizabeth Royer.
On February 13, 1873, Mr. Smull was married to Miss Harriet Transue, who was born November 4, 1842, in Hublersburg, Penn., the daughter of Peter Transue, a well-known farmer,
and his wife, Elizabeth (Best), both of whom were natives of Northampton county, Penn.
THOMAS J. SMULL, a prominent merchant of Mackeyville, Clinton county, is a man who commands in a remarkable degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. His
popularity is based upon an appreciation of his sterling qualities of character, even his political opponents being stanch personal friends. As one evidence of this we may mention the fact that he has held the position of postmaster in his town for more than thirty years through all changes of administration, but other incidents are not wanting as will be seen in the following history.
Mr. Smull was born May 24, 1834, in Rebersburg, the youngest child of Henry Smull and his first wife, Elizabeth Royer, who are mentioned more fully elsewhere. When our subject was
but a few days old his mother died, and he was taken to the home of his grandfather, Christopher Royer, in the vicinity of Rebersburg. He attended school in the latter town, Mr. Mulford and Mr. Burkett being among his first teachers, and although the instruction was decidedly inferior in many respects to that given in the common schools of to-day, he managed to secure the rudiments of a practical education, and a good knowledge of the German language, English not being spoken. He remained in that locality until he was about fifteen years old, when, his grandfather having died, he went to the Nittany Valley to reside with a cousin, Samuel Royer. There he found the English language in common use, and for some time this was a handicap to him in his studies, but after six years' attendance(four months in each year) at the Clinton school he was qualified to teach. While in this school he made a yarn ball which he sold to a play-
mate, now the Rev. Dr. Dornblaser, and in later years, believing that he had driven too hard a bargain, he returned the money with compound interest to the date of payment amounting to more than two dollars. The transaction illustrates well the strict integrity which has characterized his business life. After leaving school he taught successfully for eleven terms, including a term in the " Clinton school," one in Mill Hall, and four in Madisonburg, Centre county. In 1857 he spent a few months near Valley Falls, Kans., and in 1859 he went to Illinois, where he remained a year, during which he taught one term of school in Stephenson county. Before returning home in June, 1860, he spent some time in Ohio and in Philadelphia, where he visited an uncle. He had been reared as a farmer boy, but, having a desire to enter mercantile life, he secured a position as a clerk with Joseph H. Long in a store in Lamar township. Clinton county, on the pike, near the Porter township line. While there he gained a practical insight into the business, and in the spring of 1866 he formed a partnership known as Beck, Smull & Co., and engaged in mercantile business at Hamburg (now Mackeyvillei, Penn., continuing one year. Another firm, which had started at the same time, got tired before the end of the year, and our subject, with F. E. Hays as a partner, secured the store and carried on business there until 1870, when Mr. Smull became the sole owner. He met with success, and in 1874 built a new store house to accommodate his increasing trade, but in 1889 tfiis was destroyed by a flood which carried away everything, causing a loss of $6,000. His safe was not found for more than two j-ears, when it was discovered imbedded in the debris a short distance below Mackeyville. One week before the flood Mr. Smull had drawn his check to pay for a lot of flour, canceling his only indebtedness; but his satisfaction was of brief duration, as one week later he was practically penniless. He soon learned the value of a "good name," his reputation as a straightforward, honest business man bringing its own reward. It so happened that Mr. Smull, who has been an ardent Republican ever since the organization of the party, was in the habit of holding heated discussions on the topics of the day with Mr. Perry W. McDowell, an equally ardent Democrat. These tilts were always friendly, a fact which speaks volumes for the good sense of both the gentlemen, and Mr. McDowell had no sooner learned of Mr. SmuU's misfortune than he determined to show his appreciation of the latter's worth by offering him sufficient ground for a store building. The land was at the opposite end of town from Mr. Smull's former location, and Mr. McDowell had refused numerous propositions from others who wished to buy it for business purposes. In 18S9 Mr. Smull erected a new store and residence upon the site mentioned, and he has since conducted his business there. He was obliged to make "anew start in life," but his credit was good, and he has had no trouble in sustaining an honorable place in business circles. Always jovial, he likes to perpetrate a joke, and can relish a joke from others, and no man in Nittany Valley has more or better friends than "Jeff Smull."
Their last years were spent in Clinton county, and their remains now rest in the cemetery at Mt. Bethel. Mrs. Smull was the fourth daughter and fifth child in a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Four children have brightened our subject's home, two of whom died in infancy, (i) Lilly E., born July 22, 1874, lived only eighteen months.
(2) Thomas J., Jr., born September 22, 1875, is a successful teacher, having begun that occupation before he was seventeen years old ; he was married March 28, 1894, to Miss Mary Bennison, daughter of Capt. S. H. Bennison, a leading citizen of Centre county, and granddaughter of P. W. McDowell, and they now reside in Mackeyville. (3) James L. , born June 7, 1879, is also a licensed teacher, and at pres ent resides at home. (4) Martin D., born August 24, 1871, died at the age of ten months.
As Mr. Smull values education highly, he has endeavored to give his sons good opportunities, and they do credit to his efforts. He has always been a leader in his community, being ready to forward any progressive movement, and for six years he served as school director. He was influential in securing the post offlce at Mackeyville, and the citizens evidently consider him the only suitable person to take charge of it. During the Civil war he was a member of the 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and for six weeks was engaged in "emergency service."
The family is identified with the Methodist Church, of which Mrs. Smull is an active member. He is a member of the G. A. R.
Our subject has made many original printed speeches, seldom quoting from other speakers,and was always sufficiently humorous to do as the poet said: "Made many laugh that never
laughed before, and those that laughed, laughed the more." His own productions of anecdotes are used, frequently with considerable effect, by younger speakers in the central part of Pennsvlvania.
Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania Page 670 [3]
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1834 - 1926 (91 years)
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